A recent study, published by the American Psychological Association, has unveiled a significant shift in the perception of old age among middle-aged and older adults. The study, featured in the journal Psychology and Aging, reveals that these adults now perceive the onset of old age to occur later in life, a stark contrast to the perceptions held by their counterparts several decades ago. The findings suggest that changes in life expectancy and health improvements over the years might be influencing these shifting perceptions, a discovery that holds profound implications for public health and policy.
Dr. Markus Wettstein, a renowned researcher from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, has authored a groundbreaking study on the perception of old age. He notes that an increase in life expectancy could be a contributing factor to the later perceived onset of old age. Furthermore, he highlights that health advancements have reshaped societal views on ageing, leading to a shift in the perception of what constitutes old age. This shift, he argues, reflects medical and health improvements and changing societal attitudes towards ageing.
The study, which provides a comprehensive understanding of the shifting perceptions of old age, utilized data from the German Ageing Survey. This survey included responses from 14,056 individuals living in Germany who were born between 1911 and 1974. These participants were surveyed up to eight times from 1996 to 2021, providing a longitudinal perspective on their perceptions. The age range of the participants, from 40 to 100 years, and the inclusion of subsequent generations, aged 40 to 85 years, throughout the study, ensured a diverse and representative sample.
One key finding from the study is that participants born later reported perceiving the onset of old age later than those born earlier. For instance, participants born in 1911 believed that old age began at 71 when they were 65, whereas those born in 1956 considered the onset of old age to be at 74 when they were the same age. This indicates a gradual shift in the perception of what constitutes old age.
However, the study also noted a slowdown in this trend over the past two decades, indicating that the delay in perceiving old age might only continue for a while. Wettstein pointed out that the trend is not linear, and its future trajectory is uncertain.
Additionally, the research explored how individual perceptions of old age evolved as participants aged. It was found that individuals tended to view old age as beginning later in life with each passing year. For example, at age 64, the average age at which participants said old age started was 74.7, but by age 74, this had shifted to 76.8. The perceived onset of old age generally increases by about one year for every four to five years a person ages.
The study also examined differences in perceptions based on gender and health status. It found that women, on average, said old age started two years later than men, and this gender difference has grown over time. Furthermore, participants who reported feeling lonelier, in worse health, or older than their actual age believed that old age began earlier, compared to those who felt less lonely, were in better health, and felt younger.
These findings have broader implications for how individuals prepare for ageing and how older adults are viewed in society. Wettstein raised whether the trend towards postponing old age is due to more positive attitudes towards ageing or a desire to avoid the perceived negatives of being old.
The researchers recommend further studies to determine whether this trend will persist and suggest expanding the research to more diverse populations in various countries, including non-Western contexts, to understand better how cultural and societal factors influence ageing perceptions globally. This would help comprehensively understand the dynamics of ageing perceptions and their implications for public health and policy.
More information: Wettstein, M., Park, R., Kornadt, A. E., Wurm, S., Ram, N., & Gerstorf, D. Postponing old age: Evidence for historical change toward a later perceived onset of old age, Psychology and Aging. DOI: 10.1037/pag0000812
Journal information: Psychology and Aging Provided by American Psychological Association
